Quiz: Is your toothbrush tainted?

Your toothbrush cleans your teeth, but what cleans your toothbrush? And does it even need to be cleaned? Sink your pearly whites into this quiz and test your toothbrush sanitation knowledge.

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Question 1 of 20

Which of the following contains more than a million different bacteria?

your mouthwash

your dental floss

your mouth

The human mouth contains millions of different bacteria, many of which are beneficial to your health.

Question 2 of 20

How often should you replace your toothbrush?

every three to four months

The American Dental Association recommends you replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Kids' toothbrushes may need to be replaced more often.

every six months

annually

Question 3 of 20

Where should you store your toothbrush?

in a dark drawer

in a plastic toothbrush container

in an open place with plenty of light

A toothbrush should not be covered or stored in a dark place because those environments encourage bacteria growth.

Question 4 of 20

Which of the following is commonly used to decontaminate a toothbrush?

ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet light kills bacteria by disrupting the DNA that holds them together.

steam

electricity

Question 5 of 20

Which household appliance is often used to disinfect a toothbrush?

dishwasher

Some people put their toothbrush in the dishwasher to disinfect it.

toaster oven

coffeepot

Question 6 of 20

Which of these has been proven to remove all bacteria on a toothbrush?

ultraviolet light

microwave

mouthwash

all of the above

none of the above

No commercially-available products or methods have been shown to kill all living organisms on toothbrushes.

Question 7 of 20

A person who disinfects several toothbrushes by dipping them in a glass of mouthwash should be careful to ______.

run the brushes under water before using them

use a separate glass for each brush

Toothbrushes can be cross-contaminated if multiple people use the same disinfectant solution.

leave the brushes in the glass overnight

Question 8 of 20

What should you do to keep your toothbrush clean?

rinse it thoroughly after brushing

The American Dental Association recommends that users rinse their toothbrushes thoroughly with tap water after every use and store the brush in an airy place.

hang it upside down

keep it in the box

Question 9 of 20

What does the term "sanitization" mean?

to remove 85 percent of all bacteria

to remove 99.9 percent of bacteria

The term “sanitization” generally means to reduce bacteria by 99.9 percent.

to remove 100 percent of bacteria

Question 10 of 20

Which of the following groups of people is recommended to disinfect their toothbrushes?

people with compromised immune systems

People with compromised immune systems are recommended to take extra precautions to keep their toothbrushes clean to avoid introducing possible infections.

people with braces or dentures

elderly men

Question 11 of 20

When is a toothbrush likely to be completely germ free?

fresh out of the box

if it has been disinfected

never

Since they aren't required to be sold in a sterile package, a toothbrush can already have bacteria on it right out of the box. And while disinfection methods may remove some of the germs, none have been proven to completely sterilize a toothbrush.

Question 12 of 20

True or false: Using a toothbrush that has not been disinfected introduces harmful bacteria into the brusher's mouth.

true

false

There is no current research indicating that brushing with a contaminated toothbrush will spread harmful bacteria to the brusher's mouth or cause any other adverse health effects.

Question 13 of 20

A person wanting to use mouthwash to disinfect a toothbrush should be sure that the mouthwash label says it's _____.

alcohol-free

all natural

antiseptic

An antiseptic mouthwash includes ingredients specifically intended to kill germs.

Question 14 of 20

What does the term "sterilize" mean?

to destroy all living organisms

"Sterilization" is the process of destroying all living organisms in a certain area.

to kill 75 percent of living organisms

to kill 50 percent of living organisms

Question 15 of 20

How should you store more than one toothbrush in the same area?

Don't let them touch.

To avoid cross-contamination, people shouldn't share toothbrushes, and they should be stored in an open, airy place so they do not touch each other.

Cover the brush heads.

Put in them in a container in a drawer.

Question 16 of 20

Why do health professionals say it's not necessary to disinfect a toothbrush?

Toothbrushes are self-cleaning.

It's impossible to completely remove all germs from a toothbrush.

The human body naturally defends itself from infection.

The human body is constantly exposed to potentially harmful microbes, most of which the body naturally defends itself against.

Question 17 of 20

Under what circumstance should a person replace his toothbrush sooner than every three to four months?

if the person doesn't regularly disinfect the brush

if the bristles are damaged

People should check their toothbrushes for signs of wear and tear and replace more frequently than every 3 to 4 months if needed.

if the person has a lot of dental work

Question 18 of 20

Which of these is NOT a common way to disinfect a toothbrush?

boiling

baking

Freezing and boiling are both ways in which a toothbrush can be disinfected without using specialized products. Baking your toothbrush would just melt it.

freezing

Question 19 of 20

Which of the following is NOT a good way to minimize germs on your toothbrush?

Replace your toothbrush after you've had a cold.

Close the lid when you flush the toilet.

Keep your toothbrush head covered with a cap.

Bacteria love wet environments, so keeping your toothbrush covered encourages their growth. You should replace your toothbrush after getting over any type of sickness, in addition to every three to four months, and flushing with the lid closed keeps minute water droplets from the toilet from escaping and possibly landing on your toothbrush.

Question 20 of 20

Why do some health professionals advise against disinfecting a toothbrush?

It's difficult to disinfect the brush.

It can damage the brush.

Some disinfection methods damage the toothbrush by wearing down the bristles and making it less effective.